Film cartridge lid remover



1957 J. N. RADOVICH FILM CARTRIDGE LID REMOVER Filed April '4, 1956 ToZ" "1 F FIG. 4

INVENTOR; RAD ICH TOM SHERRAR D ATTORNEY United States Patent FILMCARTRIDGE LID REMOVER John N. Radovich, San Diego, Calif.

Application April 4, 1956, Serial No. 575,996

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-336) My invention relates to improvements in means foropening film cartridges or containers of the commercial type whichusually contains 35 mm. film for use in the candid camera.

An important object of my invention is to provide means whereby the darkroom technician can readily and easily remove the end of such container,in the dark, whereby the film can be removed therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for performing thedesired function by a single tool which contains no moving parts orassembly of units and which may be manufactured by the minimum ofoperations and expense.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my novel device,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modification of same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the modification of my device, showingit in use.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the principal form of my invention,showing it in use.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, are shownpreferred embodiments of my invention, the number 1 indicates a bodyportion made of suitable material, such as a strap metal, which isshaped for easy gripping by the hand of the operator. In the principalform of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the number 2 indicates aconvolution of the extension of the body portion and is so formed thatits under surface acts as a bearing or fulcrum point in a second-orderlever when in contact with the core of the cartridge as is illustratedin Figure 4; the numbers 3 indicate prongs of a U-shaped portion of thedevice which is formed to span the outside semi-circumference of thecartridge. The number 4 indicates a bearing point in an area midwaybetween the extremities of the U-sh-aped portion which bearing point iceengages that portion of the cartridge lid which protrudes beyond orover-hangs the walls of the cartridge.

In the alternate form of the invention as is illustrated in Figures 2and 3 of the accompanying drawings, the number 5 indicates a bearing orfulcrum point formed by a bend of an extension of handle 1 in an areaoppositely disposed from the open area of the U-shaped portion.

The operation of the device is as follows:

In the dark room, the technician takes the cartridge 6 containing theunexposed film on one hand and the device in the other hand. If theprincipal form of the invention is used, the U-shaped end of the tool iscaused to semicircumscribe the outside of the cartridge near the endthereof which is provided with removable lid. The technician raises thehandle of the device which thereby causes the mid-point of the U-shapedend to abut the rim or over-hang of the lid. Continued pressure on thehandle causes the convolution area of the device to engage the centralprojection core of the cartridge. Leverage action, thus obtained, forcesthe lid from the cartridge whereby the film may be removed anddeveloped.

Operation of the modification of the device is similar to the abovedescribed procedure except that the desired result is reached by adownward thrust of the handle. This action causes the lid to be removedby the action of a simple lever of the first order.

It is understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangements of the parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A lid remover for film cartridges comprising a body member having anelongated handle on one end thereof, a convolution on said body memberforuse as a fulcrum of second-class lever action of the remover, aU-shaped spanning means at another end of said body member, said meanshaving a lid-engaging portion laterally spaced from said convolution andlongitudinally located between said convolution and said handle wherebyforce applied to the handle will cause disengagement of a lid from afilm cartridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,741,294 Halsey Dec. 31, 1929 2,612,800 Dreier Oct. 7, 1952 2,641,397Sander June 9, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,112 Australia Jan. 11, 1935257,556 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1926

